The Drowned World

A Novel

A new generation discovers "the most original English writer of the last century." —China Miéville, The Nation

Appearing in hardcover in
America for the first time, this neglected Ballardian masterpiece promises to
be a touchstone for environmentalists the world over.

First published in 1962, J.G.
Ballard’s mesmerizing and ferociously imaginative novel not only gained him
widespread critical acclaim but also established his reputation as one of the
finest writers of a generation. The Drowned World imagines a terrifying
world in which global warming has melted the ice caps and primordial jungles
have overrun a tropical London. Set during the year 2145, this novel follows
biologist Dr. Robert Kearns and his team of scientists as they confront a
cityscape in which nature is on the rampage and giant lizards, dragonflies, and
insects fiercely compete for domination.
Both an unmatched biological mystery and a brilliant retelling of Heart
of Darkness—complete
with a mad white hunter and his hordes of native soldiers—this “powerful and
beautifully clear” (Brian Aldiss) work becomes a thrilling adventure with “an
oppressive power reminiscent of Conrad” (Kingsley Amis).